Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The continuing refusal by the Government and the Minister for Justice to come before this House to make a statement and take questions on the appointment to the Supreme Court is outrageous and unacceptable and I urge him to remedy that situation without any further delay. We have learned today that on the day his Government appointed Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court, a second appointment was made to the Circuit Court. Can the Taoiseach explain to us his role in that appointment? The Tánaiste, Deputy Leo Varadkar, has confirmed that he knew that the person appointed to the Circuit Court had previously worked with the former Fine Gael Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charlie Flanagan. Was the Taoiseach aware of this when that appointment was made? Can he tell us how many applications or expressions of interest were made for that position on the Circuit Court? Can he confirm, once and for all, that there will be accountability here and that the Minister for Justice will present herself, make a statement and take questions?

See this speech in context